Zach Bauer, executive director of the Kalamazoo Gay-Lesbian Resource Center, said the resource center considers the decision for the issue to go to trial as a "bump in the road."

"We were hopeful he would issue a ruling in our favor today, but ultimately the important thing is justice is served. We are optimistic the judge will make the correct decision in the trial," Bauer said.

Friedman heard testimony Wednesday in Detroit as part of a lawsuit filed by two Hazel Park nurses,
who first sued to win joint custody of their adopted children and
later expanded the case to involve the same-sex marriage ban. The judge decided to send the issue to trial on Feb. 25.

Bauer said it would mean a lot to him and other people in the LGBT community in committed relationships for the ban to be overturned.

"I'm a lifelong Michigander," he said. "It would be great for our state to finally fulfill its promise to treat people fairly and recognize my long-term, loving relationship with my partner."

A letter from the Michigan Attorney General's office to county clerks on Wednesday said that even if the judge had overturned the ban, counties wouldn't be able to begin issuing marriage licenses to same-sex couples until the matter reaches final disposition on appeals.

Aaron Mueller is a public safety reporter for the Kalamazoo
Gazette. Contact him at amuelle1@mlive.com or 269-568-3867.
Follow him on Twitter.